Force lasting machine



June 3, 1947. J. 5. KAMBORIAN 2,421,508

FORCE LASTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 1:s, 1945 2 SheetS -Sheet i o 0 ml w l m W I -v-ro2 (JACOB 6K4 MBOE/AN June 3, 1947. J. s. KAMBO RIAN FORCE LASTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 13, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m M I k/ACOB \5- KAMBaE/AU Patented June 3, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE J acob S. Kaniborian, West Newton, Mass. Application September 13, 1945, Serial No. 615,967

This invention relates to an improvement .in footwear and more specifically to an improvement in a force lasting machine by which a last is introduced into the assembled upper and sock lining unit of a shoe of the California or forcelasted type at one stage in the manufacture of such a shoe. 1

One characteristic feature of shoes of that type is that the upper and sock lining or insole are assembled to form a unit and that into such unit there is introduced under pressure or forced a last which will tension or expand the upper and sock lining into the condition which it will assume and maintain when the shoe is completed.

The present invention resides in a machine by which the last is forced into theunit to bring about the above result. inventionis embodied in a machine whichis a modification of the machine disclosed in the co- 1 pending Kamborian'application, Serial No. 527,- 890, filedMarch 24, 1944, adapted for handling a last of the type disclosed in the .copending Kamborian application, Serial No. 574,276, filed January 24, 1945. That last is of thelongitudinally separable type which is introduced into the assembled upper and sock lining unit while contracted, and is subsequently expanded whereby the unit is distended and stretched. Although this invention is particularly useful in the manufacture of California shoes and is described with particular reference to the manufacture of 17 Claims. (01. 12-4) More specifically this of amachine embodying the invention and of the accompanying drawings in which such machine is illustrated and in which: t

Fig. 1 is aview in perspective of a machine embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is'a view in perspective of the rear end of the machine shown in Fig. 1 with the last expanded;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the last expanded and tilted in a vertical plane; and

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal. central section of the last supporting elements. e

The machine illustrated in the drawings comprises a base I provided with guideways 2 for a carriage 3 upon which are supported the instrumentalities shown and described in detail in the above-mentioned application Serial No. 527,890

by which the assembled upper and sock lining such shoes, it is also useful in, the re-lasting of reforming and stretching 01' provision of means by which the last under treatment can'be raised or lowered or can be rocked in a vertical plane to facilitate the force lasting,

by the use of a single machine, of shoes whose bottom surfaces vary in contour so that the bot -tom surface ofthe forepart of any given last may belocated in that horizontal place at which the machine operates most efiiciently. i

Other objects of this invention will be apparent. upon a consideration of the following description i unit isiorced upon the forepart 01 a last. Such instrumentalities comprise a. pair of divergent wings 4 pivotally mounted upon the carriage 3 and an armipivotally mounted. upon a post 6 upon the carriage. The wings '4. are yieldably held toward each other by a spring 'I and the rear end of the arm 5 is yieldably depressed by a spring 8. The wings l and rear end of the arm 5 are so positioned by Ithe springs I and 8 that the formerengage the sides andthe latter engages the bottom surface of the forepart of the lasted unit when the carriage is advanced forwardly i against the urge of a spring (not shown) as by cables I0, secured atone endto the carriage 3 and'passed over pulleys II to a treadle or other actuable means (not shown). The inner faces of the wings ,4 and the rear end of the arm 5 are provided with friction pads of crepe rubber or the like by which the upper. and the sock lining are gripped and drawn singly over the forepart of the last. .A handle I2 connected by links to the wings 4 permits the separation of the wings against the urge of the spring 1 when occasion by a tongue I6 projecting from the front edge of the plate I5 which enters a. recess in the rear end of the base I and is pivotally supported upon a cross rod I8. The rod I8 also supports and permits the freerotation of the pulleys II which are received in slots in the rear end of the base I5.

A pair 'of arms 20 extend rearwardlyfrom the base I at the sides of the plate I5. These arms are here shown as integral with the base but may, if desired, be separate from and suitably secured to the base. The upper surface of the plate [5 is cutaway to provide a recess 2| in which is mounted a block 22 adapted for reciprocation longitudinally of the plate.

The longitudinally separable last of the type disclosed in said applicationSerial No. 576,276 is provided with longitudinally spaced spindle sockets or thim'bles one in the forepart unit and the other in the heel part unit. This machine is accordingly provided with spindles 23 and 24 on which lasts of this type are supported. The spindle 23 is mounted in the base plate 15 and the spindle 24 is mounted in the block 22. As

shown in the drawings the spindles are provided with threads which mesh with threads in the plate and block so that the spindles can be adjusted vertically as desired. The spindle 24 passes through the block 22 and its lower end is received in arecess 25 formed in the plate 15. The recess 25 extends longitudinally so that the spindle 24 willnot interfere with the reciprocation of the block 22 which will now be described.

Mounted in the arms of the base I upon suitable bearings (not shown) is a rock shaft 26 which passes through an arcuate slot 21 in the base plate 15 and carries a handle 28. Fixed to the rock shaft 26 at each side of the plate I5 is an arm 29 each arm bein connected by a link 30 to a pin 3| projecting from the side of the block 22. Obviously by rocking the shaft 26 the block 22, with the spindle 24, is reciprocated in the recess 2| and the space between the spindles is varied asdesired.

In addition to this movement of the spindle 24, conditions arise which render it desirable that the entire last supporting means be rocked in a vertical plane relative to the base I and themstrumentalities mounted thereon. As pointed out above thetongue l6 of the base plate 15 is pivotally supported upon the cross rod l8. At the rear end of the plate [5 is mounted a cross rod 32 the ends of which extend through arcuate slots 33 in the arms 20. Knobs 34 threaded upon the ends of the rod 32 serve to clamp the base plate against movement between the arms 20.

The operation of this machine in force lasting an assembled upper and sock lining unit willnow be described. A longitudinally separable last 35 of the type shown in application No. 574,276 in the contracted position, is mounted upon the spindles 23 and 24 and the forepart of an assembled upper and sock lining unit is slipped by the operator onto the forepart of the last. The treadle (not' shown) is then depressed causing the cables ID to retract the carriage 3 so that the wings 4 and the rear end of the arm 5 engage the upper and sock lining respectively and draw them snugly about the forepart of the laststretching'the forepart of the upper and eventually disposing the toe of the last within the toe of the unit. The operator then slips the heel of the unit over the heel of the last 35 and actuates the handle 28 to move the spindle 24 rearwardly whereby the last is expanded and the entire unit seated snugly thereon. Suitable means (not shown) are provided for holding the last in the expanded position. The carriage 3 is then allowed to return to normal position thus releasing the last which can then be removed from the spindles.

At the beginning of the operation the spindles 23 and 24 are raised or lowered to bring the bottom surface of the forepart of the last in the proper relation to the rear end of the arm 5. Since the contour of the bottom surface of lasts varies as to the inclination of the bottom surface of the forepart, the last is rocked in a vertical plane by loosening the knobs 34 and swinging the base plate 15 about the rod l8 until the last is so positioned that the rear end of the arm 5 will bear upon the bottom surface of the forepart throughout its length thus insuring that the sock lining will be wiped firmly into contact therewith.

While one embodiment of this invention has been described in detail it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto and that other embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit 'and scope thereof as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A machine forintroducing a last into an assembled upper and sock lining unit comprising a last support, a pair of yieldable upper wiping elements normally spaced apart a distance less than the width of the forepart of the last, and a sock lining Wiping elementQmeans for causing a rela tive motion between the last support and the wiping elements thereby causing said elements to move rearwardly of the last, and means for rocking said last support in a vertical plane to adjust the bottom surface of the forepart of the last with relation to said sock lining wiping element.

2. A machine for introducing a last into an assembled upper and sock lining unit comprising a, last support, a pair of yieldable upper wiping elements normally spaced apart a distance less than the Width of the forepart of the last, and a sock lining wiping element, means for causing a relative motion between the last support and the wiping elements thereby causing said elements to move rearwardly of the last, and means for adjusting said last supporting means vertically and rockably in a vertical plane to bring the bottom surface of the forepart of the last in a desired relation to said sock lining wiping element.

3. A machine of the class described comprising a base, means carried thereby to support a last to be forced into an assembled upper and sock lining unit, a carriage slidably supported upon said base for movement toward and from said last supporting means, a pair of spaced, upright, rearwardly diverging wings pivotally mounted upon said carriage and yieldably urged toward each other, means for moving said carriage rearwardly toward said last supporting means whereby the inner surfaces of the wings engage the sides of the forepart of the upper of such unit and draw such unit upon the forepart of the last, and means for rocking said last supporting means in a vertical plane to bring the bottom surface of the forepart of the last into a desired horizontal plane. Y i Y 4. A machine of the class described comprising a base, means carried thereby to support a last to be forced into an assembled upper and sock lining unit, a carriage slidably supported upon said base for movement toward and from said last supporting means, a pair of spaced, upright, rearwardly diverging wings pivotally mounted upon said carriage and yieldably urged toward each other, means for moving said carriage rearwardly toward said last supporting means whereby the inner surfaces of the wings engage the sides of the forepart of the upper of such unit and draw such unit upon the forepart of the last, and means for adjusting said last supporting means' vertically and rockably in a vertical -5. A machineof the class described comprising a base, means carried thereby to support a lastto be forced into an assembled upper and sock lining unit, a carriage slidabiy supported upon said base for movement toward and from said last supporting means, a pair, of spaced, upright, rearwardly diverging wings pivotally mounted upon said carriage and yieldably urged toward each other, an arm pivotally supported upon said carriage and yieldably held with its rearward end urged downwardly toward said carriage, means for moving said carriage rearwardly toward said last supporting means whereby the inner surfaces of the wings and of the rearward end of the arm engage the sides of the forepart of the upper and the forepart of the sock lining respectively of such unit and draw such;unit upon the forepart of the last, and means for rocking said last supporting means in a vertical plane to bring the bottom surface of the forepart of the last into a desired relation to the rearward end of said arm.

6. A machine of the class described comprise ing a base, means carried thereby to support a last to be forced into an assembled upper and sock lining unit, a carriage slidably supported upon said base for movement toward and from, said last supporting means, a pair of spaced, upright, rearwardly diverging wings pivotally mounted upon said carriage and yieldably urged toward each other, an arm pivotally supported upon said carriage and yieldably held with its rearward end urged downwardly toward saidcarriage, means for movingsaid carriage rearwardly toward said last supporting means whereby the inner surfaces of the wings and of the rearward end of the arm engage the sides of the forepart of the upper and the forepart of the sock lining respectively of such unit and draw such ,unit upon the forepart of the last, and means for adjusting said last supporting means vertically and rockably in a vertical plane, to bring the bottom surface of the forepart of the last into a desired relation to the rearward end of said am.

'7. A machine for introducing a last into a shoe comprising a last support, wiping means for frictionally engaging opposite sides of the i'orepart of the upper and wiping means for frictionally engaging the forepart of the insole of a shoe partially drawn over a last mounted on the last support, said means being operative to stretch the shoe rearwardly relatively to the last, and means for rocking said last support in a vertical plane to adjust the bottom surface of the forepart of the last with relation to the insole wiping means.

8. A machine for introducing a last into a shoe comprising -a last support, friction wiping means engageable with opposite sides of the forepart of an upper partially drawn over a last on the support, means for imparting relative movement to the friction means and last thereby to stretch the shoe rearwardly over the last, and means for rocking said last support in a vertical plane to adjust the last with relation to the wiping means.

9. A machine for introducing a last into a shoe comprising a last support, a presser device, means resiliently urging the presser device downwardly toward the bottom of a last mounted on the support, wiper elements at opposite sides respectively of the presser device and of the longitudinal axis of the last, said elements being normally spaced apart a distance less than the width of the forepart of the last, resilient means urging,

the wiper. elements toward said axis, means operative to cause the toeportion of the last to enwith the presser device, and means for rocking said last support in a vertical plane to adjust the bottom surface oftheforepart of the last with relation to the presser device.

and a last support flxedly mounted therein, a slide mounted in guides on the-base for movement toward and from the last support, means tending to move the slide forwardly away from the last support, and means whereby the slide may be moved rearwardly toward the last supter between said wiper elements and into contact 10. In a machine of theclass described, a base por't, means mounted on the slide operative to exert airlctional drag on the insole and also on opposite sides of the upper, respectively, of a par- 20 .tially lasted shoe and to move relatively thereto as the slide is moved rearwardly'toward the last support, thereby to drawthe upper snugly about the forepart of the last, and means for rocking forepart of the last with relation to the frictional drag-exerting means.

11. In a machine of the class described, a base and: a last support mounted thereon. a slide mounted inguides on: the base for movementtoward and from the last support, means for moving the slide forwardly away from the last support, and means whereby the slide may be moved rearwardly toward the last support, a pair of said last support in a vertical planeto adjust the upper pulling friction elements mounted on the slide, said elements being arranged to engage oppositesides of a partially lasted shoe'upper and to dragthe upper rearwardly over the forepart of a last mounted on thesupport as the slide is moved toward the last support, means operative to to separate the friction elements after the upper has been drawn over the last, and means for rocking said last support in a vertical plane to adjust the last with relation to theupper pulling friction elements;

12. Ina machine of the classdescribed, lastsupporting means comprising a base plate, a block longitudinally reciprocable upon said plate, a pair of last-supporting spindles, one spindle carried by said base ,plate and the other spindlecarried by said block, means for varying the distance between said spindles, means operative to apply rearwardlydirected stress concomitantly to oppositesides of the forepart of an upper partially drawn over a last on the support, and means for 56 rocking said support in vertical plane 13. A machine for introducing a last into the assembled upper and sock lining unit of a forcelasted shoe, said machine comprising a base;

means carried by the base defining a substantially so horizontal rectilinear fixed guideway, a carriage movable along said guideway, yieldable means tending to hold the carriage at one end of said guideway, means operative to move the carriage toward the opposite end of the guideway, a last 5 support located adjacent to the latter end of the guideway, said last support comprising a pair of spaced parallel spindles with their axes disposed substantially in the longitudinal mid-plane of the guideway, upper stressing means mounted on the carriage, said upper stressing means comprising resilient, yieldable friction elements, concomi tantly engageable with the opposite sides of the forepart of the upperand with the sock lining of anassembled upper and socklining unit partially 76 drawn onto a last mounted on the spindles, the

assembled upper and sock lining unit of a forcelasted shoe, said machine comprising .a base, means carried by the base defining a substantially horizontal rectilinear fixed guideway, a carriage movable along said guideway, yieldable means tending to hold the carriage atone end of said guideway, means operative to move the carriage carriage movable along'said guideway, yieldable means tending to hold the carriage at one end of said guideway, means operative to move the carriage toward the opposite end of the guidetoward the'opposite end of the guideway, a last 1 support located adjacent to the latter end of the guideway, said last support comprising a pair of spaced parallel spindles with their axes disposed substantially in the longitudinal mid-plane of the guideway, upper stressing means mounted on the carriage, said upper stressin means comprising resilient yieldable friction elements concomitantly engageable with the opposite sides of the forepart of the upper and with the sock lining of an assembled upper and sock lining unit partially drawn onto a last mounted on the spindles, the last-supporting spindles being relatively adjustable toward and from each other.

15. A machine for introducing a last into the assembled upper and sock lining unit of a forcelasted shoe, said machine comprising a base, means carried by the base defining a substantially horizontal rectilinear fixed guideway, a

carriage'movable along said guideway, yieldable means tending, to hold the carriage at one end of said guideway, means operative to move the carriage toward the opposite end of the guideway,

a last support located adjacent to the latter end.

of the guideway, said lastsupport comprising a pair of spaced parallel spindles with their axes disposed substantially in the longitudinal midplane of the guideway, upper stressing means mountedon the carriage, said upper stressing 'means comprising resilient yieldable friction elements concomitantly engageable with the op, posite sides of the forepart of the upper and with the sock lining of an assembled upper and sock lining unit partially drawn onto a last mounted on the spindles, the last-supporting spindles being vertically adjustable relatively to each other.

16. A machine for introducing a last into the assembled upper and sock lining unit of a forcelasted shoe, said machine comprising a base, means carried by the base defining a substantially horizontal rectilinear fixed guideway, a

way, a last support located adjacent to the latter end of the guideway, said last support comprising a pair of spaced parallel spindles with their axes disposed substantially in' the longitudinal mid-plane of the guideway, upper stressing means mounted on the carriage, said upper stressing means comprising resilient yieldable friction elements concomitantly engageable with .the opposite sides of the forepart of the upper and with the sock lining of an assembled upper and sock lining unit partially drawn onto a last mounted on. the spindles, the last-supporting spindles being adjustable relatively to the path of the carriage, thereby to vary the position of the shoe upper relatively to the upper stressing means.

1'7. A machine for introducing a last into an assembled upper and sock lining unit of a forcelasted shoe, said machine comprising a base and a carriage slidable along a fixed, rectilinear horizontal guideway in the base, yieldable means tending to hold the carriage atone end of the guideway, means operative to move the carriage toward the opposite end of the guideway, a last support adjacent to the latter end of the guideway, a last-supporting spindle mounted on the last support with the axis of the spindle substantially in the longitudinal mid-plane of the guideway, upper stressing means mounted on the carriage, said upper stressing means comprising resilientlyyieldable friction pads con- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,121,967 Bates et al. Dec. 22, 1914 1,121,968 Bates et al Dec. 22, 1914 2,394,997 Kamborian Feb. 19, 1946 

